NEW YORK, December 16, 2008 (WAFA)- The United Nations and its diplomatic partners in the search for Middle East peace – the European Union (EU), Russia and the United States – called, Monday, for an intensification of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, urging both sides to take the necessary steps to reach this goal.

The Quartet, in a top-level meeting hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at UN Headquarters in New York, called on the Palestinians to continue their efforts to reform the security services.

At the same time, the group called on Israel to freeze all colonization activities, which have a negative impact on the negotiating environment and on Palestinian economic recovery, and to address the growing threat of colonizers’ extremism.

“The Quartet expressed its considered view that the bilateral negotiations process launched at Annapolis in 2007, is irreversible and that these negotiations should be intensified in order to put an end to the conflict and to establish as soon as possible the state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel,” said a statement issued at the end of the meeting.

“The Quartet affirmed that a final treaty and a lasting peace will be reached through simultaneous and mutually re-enforcing efforts on three tracks: negotiations; building the institutions of a Palestinian State, including facilitating economic development through an improvement of conditions on the ground; and implementation of the parties’ obligations under the Roadmap, as stated in the Annapolis Joint Understanding.”

The Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported that the Gaza power plant, which supplies a portion of the Strip’s needs, has been turned off by the company in charge there. The decision was taken following the closure of all goods crossings.

A series of rolling blackouts has been occurring throughout the Gaza Strip since Sunday evening,  ranging from 12 hours a day in some areas to 4 hours a day in others.

UNSCO also reports that 81 truckloads of materials did pass from Israel into Gaza, Monday, including 20 truckloads for humanitarian aid agencies that included flour, milk and medicine.

“The Quartet emphasized that the provision of humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, pharmaceuticals, water and sewage maintenance items, and to the people in Gaza must be assured continuously,” the statement said. “The Quartet also reiterated its previous call for Israel to allow into Gaza sufficient materials to facilitate the resumption of stalled UN and other donor projects.”

The Quartet commended the PNA for its progress in security performance and welcomed the robust Palestinian-Israeli cooperation for the expansion of security and law and order in the West Bank, most notably in Jenin and Hebron.

“The Quartet viewed the successful deployment of the Palestinian security services to Hebron as the most recent demonstration of the substantial progress that has been made since Annapolis,” it added.

Attending the meeting with Mr. Ban were EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana and European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.